10 Greatest Angles In Modern Wrestling History
3. The Sami Zayn Turn
Certain takes on the internet were exhausting after the closing angle of the 2023 Royal Rumble.
WWE did something phenomenal. Stadiums are not meant to sound like they did when Sami Zayn cracked Roman Reigns with the steel chair. The sound is not meant to carry that well. The level of emotion no-sold the acoustics.
That's the sort of take some cynical posters ripped the piss out of - "Watch a real prestige drama!" - as if wrestling is an inherently unworthy form. It isn't, when it's done well, and Sami Zayn's heel turn was a masterpiece of an angle.
The moment was informed by tremendous, layered storytelling plotted across several months. Zayn's character work was stunning its range, too; endearing and sympathetic, he didn't join the Bloodline because he was a bad person. A man who spent so much of his career being manipulated and battered by his closest friend longed for acceptance.
In yet another facet to a seminal face turn, he saved that friend. He wasn't just funny, sympathetic, well-intentioned. He was loyal.
Without the use of blood, WWE effectively orchestrated an effective, brutal scene. Kevin Owens, cuffed, and at the total mercy of the Bloodline following his loss to Roman, sold his role brilliantly. Roman Reigns was outstanding too - and again, months' worth of subtle menace informed the power of his furious explosion. Predictable is the wrong word to use here - that would imply the saga wasn't dramatic - the expected turn of events was already great.
Sami turns.
He loses to Roman at Elimination Chamber.
He exacts a measure of revenge alongside Owens against the Usos at WrestleMania 39.
Jey Uso walking out added a superb, intriguing twist to the story that also dovetailed with his own complicated relationship with Roman. WWE took the storyline into an even more fascinating direction than we all thought.
The whole thing was masterful.